This meticulously drawn graphic novel about Jeffrey Dahmer as a high schooler is a haunting portrait of a disturbed individual in his formative years and it depicts how the environment that he grew up in helped create one of the most notorious serial killers in recent memory.

The author-artist is fellow Dahmer classmate Derf Backderf, who proves how hindsight can be 20/20, recognizing all the disturbing behaviors and situations upon reflection, and after Dahmer's ghastly murders were committed. Derf has pieced together the timeline for the graphic novel with help from Dahmer's father's novel and other records, used recollections from other classmates, and paints a picture of Dahmer that is both shocking and in many ways sympathetic.

If there was ever a playbook for creating or spotting a serial killer Derf shows how Dahmer 'checks all the boxes': a disturbed mind and untreated mental illness, teenage alcoholism, isolated in a small town in an era when school had few rules, dysfunction at home where parents go through a nasty divorce, mother has her own mental health problems, dad is oblivious to his son's issues, Dahmer doesn't fit in at school and is bullied by some of his peers, repressed sexual urges and closeted homosexuality, interest in dead animals and roadkill, collection of animal carcasses, his apathy and lack of emotion. So many warning signs. So little done to step in.

Derf asks at one point 'Where were all the adults?' but he also recognizes that this was a different decade, a different era, and remarks that even his teachers would comment on rolling their own joints, and obviously turned a blind eye to a drunk Dahmer every day. There's also a point where, after Dahmer's first murder, thanks to shoddy police work, he SHOULD have been caught. Today, we have our eyes open to all sorts of new concerns, and schools have zero tolerance for any substance use and keep an eye out for mental health problems and bullying.

This is a tragic tale, but I appreciate that Derf told it the way he did (even with the adolescent ignorance involved) and that the movie adaptation happened. May another horrific set of crimes, or such a troubled individual, never come out of a similar circumstance again.

When Predator was released unexpectedly in 1987, it was one of the finest science fiction movie of its time since the release of Alien in 1979. In 1989, Dark Horse published Predator, the comic book series as an in-direct sequel to the movie before 1990 Predator 2. I have not read any of the comic versions until finally, I bought this... and I have some mix feelings towards it.

Predator: The Essential Comics Volume 1 features three reprinted mini-series that was published before over the years and one never before published adaptation of Predator 2 until now. In Predator: Concrete Jungle, the story takes place in New York city where during the hottest summer, the Predator is on the hunt again... except, he brings his compatriots. Detective Schaefer, brother of Major Alan "Dutch" Schaefer, together with Detective Rasche investigates the murders and the conspiracy of one certain general that was involved from the movie. As the Predators invade New York City, it take Schaefer and Rasche to save the day. In Predator: Cold War, the Predators are now in Siberia and once again, on the hunt. Schaefer and Rasche once again together with a beautiful Russian soldier will stop the Predators on their hunting game... only the Russian government and the American government and a certain general want the Predators technology. In Predator: Dark River, its summer all over again and this time, a crazed Predator from Schaefer's past returns and wreck havok in South America. Once again, Schaefer investigates and this time, he will put an end to it.

The comic book series is filled with a lot of one-liners and cheesy action. I can see that writer Mark Verheiden really love the movie and so, his style of writing is similar to how the 1980s are then but it doesn't get any better. Although I do feel the concept of the Predator universe is some what not understood, its not exactly the best of its own when it comes to reading. On art, Chris Warner and Ron Randalldid a good job capturing the presence of the characters. Its not really good and its not that terrible. Its just how it is when reading a Predator adaptation comic and felt as if a fan would have envision it. Overall for me, Predator: The Essential Comics Volume 1 would appeal to fans but not as an introductory story to those who are not familiar with.

We just got back from seeing A Monster Calls. Mom and I have read the book, my brother and sister had not. We all LOVED it.

Seriously, it was absolutely incredible. I was bawling by the end with no shame. So was a lot of the movie theatre. Possibly my brother but I couldn't tell. 

Really, it was one of the best adaptations of a book I have ever seen. About 90% of the book was there, word for word. There were a few differences and they added some new material but overall it was the book I love brought to the screen. The stuff the added was also incredible and fit in wonderfully with the story and enhanced it. The acting was all flawless. I was especially impressed with the young actor who played Connor. He did amazingly.

If you love the book, I really think you'll enjoy the movie. Just bring some tissues. I didn't have any and now my hoodie is all gross. 

The book is a good reputation of the film and sticks closely to the events of the movie. The artwork was good, although I thought some of the facial expressions were lacking, such as during action scenes where Igor was still completely stone faced.

I did enjoy the preview of Igor Movie Prequel and am intrigued by it.

While this has gorgeous illustrations, and I love this movie that I really did adore reading this adaptation it's the movie.   That's it.   I usually love adaptations because they add something new, or show deleted or expanded scenes that were cut out or edited down because of timing concerns or because the movie shifted slightly and wouldn't support that scene.   At the very least, you tend to get more into the characters heads. 

Due to the format, you don't really get any of the characters' thoughts, so it feels unexciting.   It really is just the movie in comic format.   It lost stars/points because it felt completely unoriginal in that aspect.   

I would hope that any adaptation, or tie-in, would add something new, but this didn't at all.   If that doesn't bug you, though, by all means this is well written - well, if you consider the movie well written - and, again, just can boast beautiful artwork. 

Why is it so highly rated given my large flaw with this?   Like I said, I found the movie fun, and thus I found this fun.   More than that, though, I see more ties to TOS when I read this.  I've had people argue that it isn't like TOS, or even TNG, at all, that it isn't Star Trek.   How is it not, I've asked back.   They still try to provide aid to everyone before fighting.   Nero and the Narada are simply too powerful, and refuse to negotiate.   What can the Federation do but fight?   Did they hesitate when the Borg made it clear that they were unwilling to compromise, or to do anything other than assimilate people?   (I'm totally on board, Borg.   You can assimilate me anytime!)

Even Kirk and his crew were willing to fight if necessary.  Was there more action than the TOS movies?   Perhaps, but when I think of Wrath of Khan, I remember some heavy duty fight scenes!   (Arguably Into Darkness had even more action, but again, I don't remember it being so much more than either Wrath or the battle with Locutus if you want to go into TNG.)

My point is there were points in both TOS and TNG where mediation and talking things out didn't work.   There were times when faking people out wouldn't cut it, and there was a time to lower the shields and fire the photon torpedoes.   The Federation has always been presented as focused on science, exploration, and peace, but they have always, always been aware that fighting and even war was a distinct possibility between races.   They armed themselves, and made sure that those in command didn't abuse the power of those weapons. 

I see nothing out of line in this movie.   They had little time, they refused to attack Nero - until he drew a final line in the sand with his actions against the Vulcan people.   The Federation, in my opinion, would have reacted as they did whether they were in Nu!Trek, TOS or TNG.   

So this became clearer to me when reading.   So the three and a half stars are partially for simply entertaining me, and proving me with such a lovely piece of art, but also a lot of this has to do with how I can now articulate why I don't feel this is an abomination to TOS and the original Trek universe as so many TOS fans feel.   (And if you do, I would love to hear counter-arguments.   I'm intrigued, and I'm willing to concede if there's a convincing argument.   Also, I respect those who hate this based on love of TOS, partly because I'm not 100% convinced I'm correct.)